Graduate Programs

Oakland University’s graduate offerings provide opportunities to work closely with our faculty and grow as conductors, performers, researchers, and teachers. The Master of Music degree offers concentrations in music education, performance (piano, vocal, instrumental, world percussion), pedagogy (piano and vocal), and conducting (choral and instrumental). The department also offers a graduate certificate in conducting and professional development opportunities for teachers.

Graduate Admissions
Applications to graduate degree and certificate programs are made to Oakland University Graduate Admissions. 

Assistantships
Graduate Assistantships that provide stipends and pay for credits are available for students enrolled in the M.M. For more information about assistantships in performance or to request an Assistantship Application, contact Dr. Tian Tian. Applications for Graduate Assistantship for Master of Music students are due by March 1.

Auditions
An audition is required for those applying to conducting, pedagogy and performance programs. Performance and pedagogy auditions are held on departmental audition days. Please register for a performance or pedagogy audition. Choral Conducting auditions may be scheduled directly with Prof. Mike Mitchell. Instrumental Conducting auditions may be scheduled directly with Prof. Greg Cunningham.

Writing Sample
Applicants to the MM in Music Education must provide a writing sample. The writing sample may be an academic paper written in an undergraduate or graduate course.

Master of Music Program
The Master of Music (MM) is a 32-credit program that offers a shared core, concentrations in conducting, education, pedagogy and performance, and electives. For more information on the Master of Music in Education, contact Dr. Cat Bennett. For all other Master of Music programs, contact Dr. Tian Tian.

Concentrations
Please contact the major teacher in your area of interest for more specific questions about coursework and concentrations.

• Conducting (Choral and Instrumental) - The Master of Music with a concentration in choral or instrumental conducting is a 32-credit program designed to meet the needs of music teachers and other music professionals who are interested in developing high-level skills and understanding in conducting.
  Learning Objectives for the MM with a concentration in choral conducting
  Learning Objectives for the MM with a concentration in instrumental conducting

• Music Education - The Master of Music with a concentration in music education is a 32-credit program designed to meet the needs of the unique music teacher and to help them expand and extend their professional skills and understandings.
  Learning Objectives for Music EducationLearning Objectives for Music Education
  
  
• Pedagogy - The Master of Music with a concentration in piano or vocal pedagogy is a 32-credit program for experienced pianists or singers, designed to facilitate broadened approaches to teaching piano or voice, to expand their knowledge of repertoire and technique, and to further their personal performance skills and musical understanding.
  Learning Objectives for Piano Pedagogy concentrationLearning Objectives for Piano Pedagogy concentration
  Learning Objectives for Vocal pedagogy concentrationLearning Objectives for Vocal pedagogy concentration
  
  
• Performance - The Master of Music with a concentration in instrumental, piano, world percussion, or vocal performance is a 32-credit program for highly experienced pianists, singers, or instrumentalists, designed to expand the student's knowledge of repertoire and technique, and to further personal performance skills and musical understanding.
  Learning Objectives for Instrumental Performance concentrationLearning Objectives for Instrumental Performance concentration
  Learning Objectives for Piano Performance concentrationLearning Objectives for Piano Performance concentration
  Learning Objectives for Vocal Performance concentrationLearning Objectives for Vocal Performance concentration
  Learning Objectives for World Percussion concentrationLearning Objectives for World Percussion concentration
  (Click to view a handout for this concentration)

For more information about Professional Development, the Master of Music and the Graduate Certificate in Conducting, please contact Dr. Tian Tian or call (248) 370-2048.